Emphasize with Liquid Accent, by Sanford

When specific lines of text need to be emphasized, the most frequent way to accomplish the task is by using a highlighting marker. In the past, these markers were usually large and often uncomfortable to hold between the fingers. But today, highlighting markers come in slimmer styles. One such marker to consider buying is Liquid Accent Pen Style Highlighter, a florescent yellow highlight marker from the Sandford Company.

Basic Facts about This Product:

These pen- style markers measure about six inches (15 cm) in length with the caps on and 5 inches (12.5 cm) in length once the cap is removed. At the widest point- which happens to be where your fingers grip the pen- the device is juts under one- half inch (12 mm) in width.

The cap for this pen is clear and so is the body, allowing you to see the ink on the inside. The chisel tip is made of felt material, similar to a magic marker, and there is a spring mechanism located just below the tip that keeps the pen in top functioning condition.

How to Use:

To use, you simply sweep the tip across the text you wish to highlight. If you want to make a wide mark, you use the wide end of the tip which will result in a yellow mark that is about one- eighth of an inch (3 mm) in width. If you want a narrow mark, just let the pointed tip of the pen come in contact with your paper. You will get a thin line measuring less than one- sixteenth of an inch (1 mm).

Customer Service:

Questions about this highlighting marker can be directed to the company web site, sanfordcorp.com, or the specific product website, accenthighlighter.com. You can find answers to many common questions in the on- line site. If you cannot find an answer or if you prefer speaking with a live person, then call 800-323-0749, between the hours of 8:30am and 6pm, Eastern Time.

Final Thoughts:

Liquid Accent’s pen- style highlighting tool is one of many such products produced by the Sanford Company. They produce a few different pen- style markers but this one is unique because it has a see- through tank that let’s you know when the ink is running low. This particular ink isn’t like that of a ballpoint pen- it is thin, almost as thin as water, and you can visibly see the fluid flowing back and forth if you tilt the pen.

Using the wide end of the chisel tip, you get a smooth flowing line of yellow ink that is bright and pleasing to the eye. The tip of the pen can be used to make a more narrow line, but this should be done sparingly. The line is so thin that many people will be unable to see it.

Another thing to keep in mind is the limits when using this pen on colored paper. The mark shows up best on white paper, as expected. It is pretty visible on manila colored folders, too. But with the majority of other colored paper, you will be unable to see the ink if you try to highlight. On blue paper, for example, the yellow ink will combine to produce a mark that appears green. And it will be barely detectable to the naked eye. Without holding the paper up to a light, most people would never know a highlighting marker was used. You need to find a different marker for situations like this.

With its thinner, pen- style design, this marker is more comfortable than others. I never really liked the wide highlighting markers from the past because, if used too much, they caused aching in the fingers. There is no such problem with this style of marker. It is just like gripping a pen and it causes no aching or strain in the fingers.

Sanford sells these pens in boxes of 12 for only about $1.99, so they are very inexpensive. Offices can often purchase in bulk for an even lower cost per unit. They are widely available and can be found in most office supply stores.

Overall, this is my favorite style of highlighting marker. There is virtually no smell, no mess, and the liquid dries within seconds after it hits your paper. And even though a single pen has less ink than a larger marker, it should still last a long time with normal office use. The design of the pen, the bright florescent color, and the comfort make this one of the best highlighters available.